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Emma Black

Narco-capitalism: a political history of drugs

Marxism 2024

From the opium wars of the 19th century to the opioid epidemic of the 21st, capitalism's drive for profit has driven addiction and dependency on drugs for centuries. At the same time, the use of drugs has been regulated and criminalised by the state, as a means of social control and a pretext for political repression. This talk will explore the relationship between capitalism and drugs.